Emma, this is a well narrated story of the history of your writer’s life where college took you. This glimpse into the past was quite stimulating to read. I loved how the life events unfolded and reading this story that felt like an entry for a memoir.

John

Many thanks, you found the thread running through time and kindly accepted the truth of my words. There is a future to come but with pauses for self reflection. More than that, I don’t know yet! Patience or adventure!?

I just found this… Oh! You write, such indigo between lines.

weirdly, this reminds me of someone that i used to love, from afar.

This poem beautifully channels Neruda’s sensual spirit. The union of passion, earth, and language. The imagery feels both intimate and elemental, echoing the way Neruda made love and nature inseparable.

It’s a stirring tribute that captures his essence…beautifully penned.

This has so much passion in this. I agree with Romaj beautifully penned.

Damn!
Excellent! You had me at “flayed”. What a vivid, well placed word.

You turned the poem into something else with this, “and all the common words of my peasant’s pen.” Following the next verse, IF you didn’t brilliantly did this, it would have been just a strong sensual poem, but with how amazingly You brought a higher level with the last two line of verse one, then the gorgeous verse two, is what makes the poem very special to me, exploring and expressing a deeper connection. I believe Pablo would admire this🤍

It was/is my pleasure to “whisper” and a big Thank You to the Roman Goddess, daughter of Cupid and Psyche. It’s not often I get a comment from royalty. Not sure I am worthy, but it is appreciated muchly.

You are most welcome my friend🌸 and consider your poem sent, his soul is still out there, just call Him 😊

Yes, please post it. I would love to read what, how you see Neruda’s love sonnets.

What a raw and intense tribute to Africa!
I’ve never been but you put into words and song a powerful truth.
How do we aim to live with it. Just wow

This poem is powerful. Both a song of mourning and a call to remembrance. I love how the repetition and rhythm make “Africa” itself feel like a heartbeat pulsing through each stanza.

The imagery is rich with longing and pride, and the movement from loss to reclamation is deeply moving. It feels like a spiritual homecoming through language itself.

What a beautiful comment, RomaJ. Thank you so much. You might be surpised, but a few of the people in the writers group (mentioned above to Adelphina) expressed similar feelings. But they also tore through it viciously. This is the final version.